BATHING IN NATURE
Allow yourself a little spontaneity in time for this coming Labour Weekend - book a luxurious three-day weekend stay for the price of two nights at Maruia River Retreat, nestled in native beech forest and less than two hours' drive from Nelson. The Reconnect with Nature package is designed for two, staying in an elegant Luxe Villa. It includes daily breakfast, three-course dinner, a guided nature walk, daily yoga classes, private forest bathing in the riverside hot tub and sauna relaxation time in the forest. There's also a complimentary sleep class and posture clinic during the Labour Weekend package. This one-night free deal also applies to Waitangi weekend and Anzac weekend. A 33 per cent saving, the package price for two people starts at $1980.
Contact: Maruia River Retreat, (027) 563 3143 or e-mail reservations@maruia.co.nz, or check out
maruia.co.nz/special-offers and use the promotional code: ONENIGHTFREE
![Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/E7Y6WLEDC4NQ2DPYPB6C7BIH4I.jpg?auth=07cc107d578cf91032204ad84cb34cd8074d44e443c1051dbe18a9cc3617f165&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
NEXT STOP TROPICS
One of the most revered scenic car journeys in the Southern Hemisphere is the Great Tropical Drive, much of it through tropical rainforest and alongside the ocean in Far North Queensland. Experience its beauty while spending three and four nights in the luxurious lodges, Thala Beach Nature Reserve between Cairns and Port Douglas, and Silky Oaks Lodge in the Mossman Gorge. Both are nestled in spectacular rainforest settings. This package comes with eight days' car hire, which begins as soon as you arrive at Cairns Airport. Flights from New Zealand are additional. The package starts at $4415pp, twin-share. Book by the end of this month.
Contact: House of Travel, freephone 0800 713 715
or check out houseoftravel.co.nz/hot-deals/deals/ast-tnq-rainforest-to-the-reef-HOT238DR2R